To My Dearest: These days

To My Dearest,
I understand that, right now, the little fear of the unknown that we all have, is a deep rumbling in your ears. That your eyes are strained trying to close, but stuck open to be sure to see all that is happening. And it is terrifying, to see the world from this point of view.

I wish I could reach towards you, to hold you and tell you, everything will be ok. Yet, we are stuck apart, and the only grasp I can make towards you, is with this letter.

Chaos has slithered its way around our ankles, and now has drawn to its full height above us, bearing its fangs and grinning all the while.
The sparks of hope, the flickers of kindness, all are being swallowed with delight by this creature. And what twisted enjoyment it gains from it.
So, while I wish I could tell you, that this will all get better, and sooner than we think, I am no oracle, nor do I wish to ever lie to you.

I ask you to hold fast.

To stay strong, to stay hopeful. To continue lighting your kind flames and reaching to others to take their share of the cinders.
It is not one flame that will cease it, nor is it one great bonfire, lit in a flash.
It is persistence.
We must keep the fire fed. We must continue to bring tinder. We must never ease up.
We must stand before that beast and show that the greatest fear is not its maw.
The greatest fear is nothing would change. The greatest fear is nothing being done.
Let it come for our flames, we will be ready with more. And soon, perhaps, we will burn this beast from the inside out.

Let us take this day by day, act by act,
With all my love, My Dearest

A poem by Colm Horgan